Macron out of his depth, says Turkey
President Macron has cast himself as a peacemaker in Turkey’s war against Kurdish forces, drawing a furious attack yesterday from President Erdogan who told the French leader that he was out of his depth.
Mr Macron has taken up the cause of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which is under assault by the Turkish armed forces in Syria as a “terrorist organisation”.
Mr Erdogan, whose country is a Nato ally of France, said in Ankara: “Don’t get into things that are out of your depth. Those who go to bed with terrorists, or even host them in their palaces, will sooner or later understand the mistake they’re making.” France “has yet to give an account for its dirty and bloody past,” he added. He appeared to be referring to its record in the colonial era. After backing the Kurds, France “no longer has the right to complain about terror organisations, terrorists and terror attacks”, he said.....
A senior Turkish official added that support for the Kurds could make France a “target of Turkey”.
Mr Macron has clashed repeatedly with Mr Erdogan since taking office last May. In France, 75 per cent approve of how Mr Macron represents the nation abroad. He invited leaders of the YPG to the Élysée Palace on Thursday as part of a team from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF, dominated by Kurds, is backed by the US-led coalition in the war against Islamic State. Mr Macron offered to mediate on their behalf and a senior Kurdish official said that he promised to send French forces to help them.......